Cotton-picker&#39;s cuff



Patented Uni. H, Wdh.

COTTUN-PIOKJERS CUJEJE.

Application filed June 23,

This invention relates to the picking or gathering of cotton by hand and provides an article to be worn upon the hand, whereby to materially increase the output, or quantity gathered in a given time, without any appreciable added effort or expenditure of energy on the part of the picker, since lost motion if obviated, the chance of dropping a hand of cotton overcome and the picker enabled to gather and hold larger hands of cotton.

The invention consists of an article which when positioned upon the hand forms a pocket at the base of the palm to catch and retain about twice the quantity possible to hold in the ordinary way of picking cotton by hand. Moreover, this pocket practically prevents the dropping of the cotton and obviates the lost ,motion incident to the recovery of a dropped hand.

The invention furthermore provides an article which functions to reinforce the wrist and brace the hand without interfering with the freedom of movement of the thumb and fingers which is essential to the picking of cotton by hand.

"While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention is it to be understood that in adapting the means to meet specific needs and requirements the design may be varied and such other changes in the minor details of construction may be resorted to Within the scope of the invention as claimed, without departing from the spirit thereof.

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof, reference is to be had to the following description and the drawings hereto attached, in whieh,--

Figure 1 is a front perspective view showing the invention applied,

Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the parts shown in Figure 1, and

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic view of the cuff.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and designated in the several views of the drawings by like reference characters.

The cuff consists of a flat body or band 1 of leather, or other suitable stout and flexible material of single of composite structure. The body 1 is elongated and its rear 1926 Serial No. 118,023.

edge 2 is concave and its forward edge 3 formed on a compound curve. The ends of the body are outwardly curved and one of the ends has a forward extension f to lie against the side of the hand adjacent the little finger. A strap 5 is attached to the diagonally opposite corner of the body 1 and is provided in its length with elements 6 of separable fastenings to cooperate with elements 7 applied to the back of the body 1. The elements 7 extend along the body in a curved line from the corner opposite that to which the strap 5 is attached. A plurality of openings 8 are formed in the corner portion of the body diagonally opposite the corner to which the strap 5 is attached to receive a lacing or thong 9. Openings 10 are similarly formed in the opposite corner portion of the body to receive a lacing or thong 11.

The cuff is applied to the wrist of the picker and is retained in place by the strap and the laeings 9 and 11. The strap 5 extends about the wrist and holds the rear edge of the cuff close to the base of the hand. The lacings 9 and 11 receive the little finger and the thumb, respectively, and prevent turning of the cuff about the hand. The several fastenings are adjustable to adapt the cuff to different sized hands. The forward portion of the cufi bulges outwardly and forms a pocket opposite the palm of the hand which receives the cotton and prevents slipping thereof from the hand and enables the picker to hold about twice the quantity pos sible with the naked hand. As a result the picker is enabled to gather about double the quantity in a given time over that picked in the ordinary way. The ends of the cuff eX- tend along opposite sides of the hand and fit close thereagainst without interfering with the freedom of movement of the hand and fingers.

Having thus described the invention, T claim:

' A cotton pickers cuff to be attached to the hand and form a pocket at the base of the palm, the same comprising an elongated fiat body of flexible material having opposite ends outwardly curved, its rear edge concave and its forward edge formed on a compound curve, and having openings adjacent its forward corners, lacings engaging the openings lltl and adapted to receive the thumb and the fastenings having elements along the length little finger of the hand, respectively, and of the strap and on the back of the body the having a forward extension at one corner to latter elements extending in a diagonal line lie against the side of the hand adjacent the from the rear corners opposite the strap.

5 little finger, a strap attached to the body In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

adjacent the rear corner diagonally opposite the said forward extension and separable WILLIAM C. FRENCH. [1 s.] 

